15 DIY Christmas Ornaments Made with Everyday Items

This year, deck the tree in whatever you have lying around! No need to spend oodles on fancy and fragile ornaments when you can make your own with everything from straws to dry macaroni.

Whether elegant or fun, all of these DIY Christmas ornaments are festive projects the whole family will enjoy. And to find the perfect tree to hang them on, check out these tips for picking out your evergreen.

1. Curled Ribbon Ornament

If there’s one thing you have extra of during the holidays, it’s packaging supplies. Put that extra ribbon (or ribbon scraps) to good use by making these colorful curly ornaments.

Materials

Ribbon in colors of your choosing

3-inch clear glass ornament

Scissors

Directions

Grab a 10-inch ribbon tail that’s still attached to the spool.

Hold it flat against the sharp edge of your scissors with your thumb, then quickly pull the scissors along the ribbon. It should curl right up. If you want a tighter curl, you can go over it again.

Trim the curled ribbon off of the spool.You could also use ribbon scraps that aren’t attached to the spool; you’ll just have to trim off a straight end after curling since the bit that you hold will won’t curl.

Continue until you have about 15 pieces of curled ribbon. If you want to completely fill your ornament, you’ll need a bit more. This one is filled nearly to the top to allow for some open space and movement.

Remove the ornament top and stick the ribbon pieces through the hole. Reinsert the top, and you’re done!

10. Soda Tabs Ornament

11. Puzzle Piece Ornaments

Everyone has a puzzle that’s missing pieces. Instead of wasting them, turn the remaining bits into these clever geometric ornaments. Just glue them into a snowflake-like shape and paint everything the same color.

12. Sweater Ornaments

Do you have a sweater with one too many moth holes — or one that you simply don’t wear? Wrap it around a Styrofoam ball to form these charming cable-knit globes. Your tree will be extra cozy this year.

13. Light Bulb Creatures

14. CD Mosaic

You’re never really going to listen to that old CD every again. Instead, cut it up and glue the pieces in a mosaic-like pattern around a glass ornament. Stick some ribbon inside so you can’t see the glue marks.